I love their relationship, though feeling a bit wary about what Gabe is going to do. This could be good. Don't forget to vote, comment, and share. Let me know your thoughts.
GABEI couldn’t stop smiling at the dinner table, thinking about Mila’s lips. Or the way her body pressed into mine while her hands slid up my back. My father, Alpha Troy, sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding and calm. My mom, Luna Emily, with her graceful demeanor, was on the other end, casting a critical eye over the cutlery’s placement. Tyler lounged lazily next to me, scrolling through his phone.The smell of roasted veggies and grilled meats filled the air as the door to the kitchen opened. I watched as Mila and the other servants moved around the table, setting down the dishes with ease. I’ve had a crush on Mila since the first time I saw her. She thought it was the day she started working here but actually the first day she came to the orphanage a year after she had lost her parents. Some boys were making fun of her one day and I guess she had enough. She picked up one of the boys and body slammed him into the ground. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. So
MILAI always felt a bit out of place working the dinner shift at the packhouse. Not only did being near Gabe make me smile uncontrollably, but the weird way Tyler had been acting made me uncomfortable. Aside from the constant bullying at school, he watched me like a hawk at the packhouse, always finding ways to subtly touch my hand when I’m placing down plates or pouring his drink. Tonight was no different. As I walked into the dining room, I froze at the sound of my name, and the pitcher I was carrying slipped from my grasp, crashing to the floor. I had been trying not to listen from the kitchen, but these walls apparently aren’t wolf proof. Even the kitchen staff had thrown sympathetic glances my way before I came out. “I…I’m…sorry,” I stammered, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I’ll clean it right away.”“Mila…” I heard Gabe’s concerned voice as he moved to help me, but Luna Emily stopped him.“No,” Luna Emily said coldly. “Let her do it alone. It’s her job, Gabriel.”Gabe
TYLERWhat the hell was I doing? I had just spent over an hour swimming, trying to drown out the thoughts of this girl, and here I was, touching her. Time wasted. I thought, but there was nothing I could do now–or at least nothing I wanted to do. Declan was happy for the closeness. In the back of my mind, I saw him pacing, eager for more, even as my mom’s warning echoed in my thoughts. Mila wasn’t worthy.“Like this?” Mila asked, pulling her wrists out of my grasp and creating distance between us. Declan didn’t like her repositioning, but I silently thanked her for it. It was hard to think when she was this close. I watched as she lightly closed her fists and brought it up to her face. I laughed at her weak form, but mostly at the fact she looked so determined and so…cute.“Not unless you’re trying to hit a weak child,” I said, closing the distance and enclosing my hand over hers. “Tighten it like this. Pretend like you’re trying to crush something hard.”“O…okay.” Her voice was shaky,
MILAMy breath caught in my throat, my heart racing at Tyler’s words. What the hell was happening? What did Tyler just say? His…his what? The Alpha of the pack was calling me his. Was this some kind of prank? I glanced towards the entrance, expecting Randall or Leo to walk in laughing. Maybe Ari put him up to this. This was crazy, and I needed to stop this before anything else weird happened. The brothers glared at each other, their grips tightening on my arms. The tension in the air was thick, charged with the weight over sibling rivalry as I looked between them. Tyler’s jaw was clenched, his eyes blazing with anger, while Gabe’s expression was one of steely determination.“Gabe,” I called out, trying to steady my voice. “Maybe…we should go.”“You heard her, Tyler,” Gabe said, his anger matching his brother. “She doesn’t want to be yours. So let her go.”Tyler laughed, his grip tightening on my arm. “Maybe she would want to stay if you weren’t hovering around her like some simp!”“I
ARIThe summer breeze was magnificent today. I wished my mood was the same.“Stop pouting. It makes you look old,” my stepmom mind-linked me as I sat up straighter in my chair.I cast a look at my stepmom’s disapproving face before she smiled at whatever my father was saying. We were on the Aliz’s property in one of their outside gardens. Above us were blooming petunias hanging from the trellis set over the table. White cloths were spread across the table with expensive-looking cutlery and plates. Everything looked perfect, even though it was just brunch, but I could already see my parents gushing at everything. I would never.“I hope the food is to your liking, Alpha Gregory,” Luna Emily said with a smile.“Oh, it’s wonderful. Though caviar isn’t something I indulge in often,” my father said, stuffing a heaping amount into his mouth.He was such a liar. He could eat a truck load if it meant he could brag about it, and usually he does. He always talked about the Aliz family as if they
ARIFor the next few weeks, I couldn’t stop thinking about Mila stealing Tyler’s attention. The only explanation was that she was his mate. Why else would he ditch me for her? And even if she was, why would he even accept her? She was nowhere near my status, and yet every time, it felt like he was choosing her over me. This was total bullshit, and I wasn’t going to be the second pick all summer. I was lounging by the pool with Amber, Julia, Randall, and Leo. Tyler went back inside to get something more refined for us to drink, but now I was thirsty for something else. So, I might as well make good use of the number one attention-taker.“Milan!” My voice cut through the laughter and chatter surrounding the pool. “Yes?” Mila’s voice was hesitant as she approached, her shadow falling over me.I looked up to see her standing nervously in front of me, blocking my sun. Her eyes kept darting towards the pool as I cleared my throat. It only took a moment for her to realize she was in my way.
GABEThe moment I came outside, I knew something was wrong. Ari was smiling, which was never good, and Tyler was using his Alpha command. My thoughts immediately went to Mila, and my heart nearly stopped when I saw it was her. Her hair was wet and disheveled, and she was coughing violently, as if she couldn’t breathe. Tyler was walking away from the pool, holding her steady as she clung to him. I put two and two together and realized she was in the pool. THE POOL!!!Ever since the boating accident with her parents, Mila has been deathly afraid of water. Even the smell of it freaked her out. It was something we were going to work on this summer but never got around to it. Dammit! I could hit myself for not doing it sooner. I wasn’t sure what happened to get her in the pool, but I knew it was Tyler’s fault somehow, and now he had the nerve to be holding her. A pang of jealousy shot through me, and I rushed behind them as they entered the house. I ran in front of Tyler to stop him as he
MILA - Senior Year“Hi, I’m the new and improved Mila Davis, and I’m the perfect candidate for the Aliz Women in Arts Scholarship because my designs are the future,” I said, looking in the mirror.Summer was long gone, and senior year was starting off great. My portfolio was complete, and my essay was edited so many times I’d lost count. Everyone seemed to be as stressed as I was with finishing the first quarter on top. Even the Mora girls were more focused on their studies than bullying, which was an extra bonus for me. Luckily, I finished everything over the summer. Since Gabe was gone for the whole month of August, I had ample time to design and make clothes. Nanna Gertie was a big help, allowing me to use her sewing room and materials. It was great to have someone to talk to and genuinely connect with. With the scholarship showcase deadline coming up right before winter break, I needed all that time to plan and beef up my portfolio. I figured this scholarship was a done deal, and
GABEMila was amazing–for the company that is. I skimmed over the reports again, marveling at the publicity and revenue her spring show had generated. Not to mention how she was able to get her clothes to smell like the actual flowers without the overly use of perfumes. If she kept this up, we’d be out of the red and above ground by next quarter. It was a miracle, really. I should have been fully focused on the documents in front of me, but my mind kept wandering.From the corner of the room, I could hear Noah humming softly as he watched his shows and scribbled with crayons. His quiet presence was a constant reminder that life had shifted in ways I hadn’t quite prepared for. It was spring break for the kids, and while most of his classmates were probably out climbing jungle gyms or chasing each other around playgrounds, Noah had chosen to spend his time in my office. Part of me wanted to push him outside, tell him to go play, to run wild and be carefree like other kids his age. But a
MILAAri flashed a smug smile, glancing around the room like she owned it. Well, I guess she did since she was Luna of this pack. “Milan, your show seems to be going well,” she said, her eyes still scanning for someone.“And you’re back here because…?”“I wanted to wish Chelsea good luck,” Ari said, her smile growing wider, “but it seems I can’t find her. I do hope there wasn't any... drama that made her leave.”“Oh, I have something that will make her leave permanently,” Rayne growled in my mind.Ignoring both the urge to respond and the sharp retort on my tongue, I shifted my focus to the one I actually needed.“Amber,” I said, sidestepping Ari, “just the ‘it’ girl I was looking for,” “Me?” Amber blinked, glancing around nervously. “Why?”“It seems as if we lost a model,” I said, noticing her reaction as if she already knew.Amber raised her chin, nose in the air. “What’s that got to do with me? I had nothing to do with it.”“I don’t care about that.” I waved off her comment. “Right
MILASo far so good. I thought, checking that everything was ready for the show. Transitioning everything to the greenhouse was seamless, especially with Gabe helping out. He was the brains behind the entire construction, so he picked the prime location for each of the models. Each location had a model staged by a specific flower that was perfectly paired with my dresses, scented to match.There was a satisfied smile playing on his lips and my heart did a flip as I watched him work. I couldn’t help but admire the way his expression shifted when he was thinking deeply, how every thoughtful "hmm" seemed to weigh the world around him. He was so in control, effortlessly authoritative, and it took everything in me not to get distracted.This is pathetic, Mila. Why are you even pinning for this guy? Just reject him already. My internal monologue was relentless, but there was no escaping the memory of that night. The moment our lips collided, the surge of heat that followed–it wasn’t somethin
MILAGabe was still crouched by the tombstone, his brow furrowed as if trying to puzzle out the same haunting riddle. I couldn’t stay there anymore. The weight of the truth was suffocating, and I needed space. Away from Gabe. Away from everyone.I turned and started toward the woods, my footsteps quickening, but Gabe was fast. He caught up, his hand clamping down on my arm once more. “Mila, stop. You shouldn’t be alone.”“I have a safe place, Gabe,” I snapped, jerking my arm free. I wasn’t really mad at him, just this whole situation. “I just… I need to get away from here, Gabe. I need space. From you. From this pack. From everything.”“And you think that hideout is safe?” He challenged me. “At least, at the packhouse, you’ll be surrounded by people who want to protect you.”I let out a hollow laugh, stepping back from him. “Protect me? I’ve never truly been protected, Gabe. Not with you. Not within the pack. If I were, I wouldn’t be here, standing over my own grave, would I?”That hit
MILAAnd neither did my body. Even running back to the packhouse, Rayne couldn’t resist brushing against Spencer who didn’t seem to mind.Rayne, stop instigating before things heat up,” I reprimanded her.“What? It’s not like he minds,” Rayne joked. “It’s not like his stupid Luna’s satisfying him.”“So what? We’re not looking to fill that position.”The moment we shifted back when we made it to the packhouse, I could barely take my eyes off of him. I never took Gabe as a domineering kind of man, but more susceptible to ideas and ‘do-whatever-I-wanted’ kind of man. Though, the way his muscles moved when he stalked up the steps, commanding his warriors had me, or rather I say, Rayne feeling way too hot and bother. Even with Alex and Tyler at my back, I could feel Gabe’s presence tingling all over me. I tried ignoring her, but the next part nearly threw me at his feet.The door to the packhouse and Beta Brian rushed out, looking a bit panicked. “Alpha, I was just about to–” In a flash,
MILAAs we approached the cemetery, we saw him–a man crouched over a grave, his back to us. The idea of a rogue risking his life to be here struck me as odd. Though, the fact I still felt strong enough to take him on was odd too. Using Rayne’ healing powers usually took a toll on us, but we were able to heal three people and only felt a little weak. Hell, I was sure we could take down a small army if needed. “His scent is familiar,” Rayne said. “Maybe there's a connection.”As I drew closer, I watched as he placed flowers carefully on the grave. I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling crawling up my spine. My instincts kicked in. Rogue or not, we had no idea what this man was capable of. I saw Tyler readying himself to step forward so I beat him to it.“Hey!” I called out.The man didn’t flinch. Just kept his gaze on the grave. “I’m not your enemy,” he said, his voice quiet, but filled with sadness. “And the others are not my friends. I just wanted… to be in her presence.” Slowly, he
TYLERMy heart clenched as I slammed on the brakes. I cursed under my breath and threw the door open. The smell of rot and decay hit me like a punch to the gut, and that’s when I saw it–well, them. Rogues moving through the trees toward Mila’s direction. Rogues were known for their chaotic nature, but lately, their attacks had become more coordinated, more calculated. Someone was pulling the strings, and I’d bet my rank Alpha Gregory was involved.My instincts flared, the beast inside me rising to the surface. I had to get to her before more of them showed up. Without hesitation, I shifted mid-stride. My bones snapped and rearranged in the familiar yet painful shift, my skin giving way to fur and muscle as Declan took over. The rush of power flowed through me like fire in my veins, and Declan hit the ground running, paws digging into the dirt as I sprinted toward the wreckage.Two rogues were moving around her car which had been flipped upside down. Declan bared his teeth, his growl ru
GABEI’d been staring at the same papers for ten minutes, trying to make sense of the reports, but the numbers and words blurred into nonsense. The knot in my gut twisted tighter–a familiar feeling that gnawed at me whenever things were about to go wrong. I was used to it by now, but this wasn’t about the crumbling state of business or the rogue attacks along the borders. It was something else. Something worse. A knock on my office door pulled me out of my daze.“Come in,” I said, my voice rougher than usual, a sharp edge of irritation that I didn’t bother hiding.Yesmen stepped in, holding an envelope in her hand, her usual composed expression faltering just slightly. Yesmen never faltered, not in the years she had worked for me. She was the most professional, by-the-book person I had on staff. I sighed, already feeling the headache creeping in. I knew what this was about. I’d been avoiding it. Avoiding her. But here it was, right in front of me, waiting to be dealt with.“Yesmen, you
MILAWith Camila feeling guilty about the showcase, it didn’t take long for us to come up with a plan to savage the showcase. All I needed now was Gabe’s approval. I debated on letting Camila go but I was pretty sure she was banned from the previous incident. Alex, on the other hand, practically slept at the packhouse hospital. Seriously, I haven’t seen the guy in two weeks. I was starting to forget how he felt under my fingers. Maybe I could pay him a visit?As I approached the MoonCrest pack border, the familiar sensation of being connected to the land washed over me. It wasn’t as overwhelming as being at the packhouse, but still the feeling made me feel alive. So much so, I got out of the car just to feel the ground beneath my feet, buzzing slightly with energy. I knew this feeling from Alpha Jack’s pack. When he invited me to become a pack member, during the ritual linking there was a bond a wolf felt with the land and the pack.“Stop right there!” a voice called out, firm and auth